When I first got my Dutch health insurance, I ticked the basic package and assumed I was done. It took a cracked molar and a €580 dental bill to make me rethink.
The Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) is genuinely good for medical care. Hospital treatment, specialist visits after GP referral, prescription medication — all covered. But several categories of care that expats commonly need are not included. Dental is the biggest one. Physiotherapy is another. Mental health, glasses, and travel coverage are others.
This guide covers the main supplementary insurance options (aanvullende verzekering), what they cost, what they actually cover, and my honest view on which are worth buying for expats.
How Dutch Health Insurance Works
Before getting into add-ons, it’s useful to know the structure:
Basisverzekering (basic insurance) — mandatory for every Dutch resident. You choose a provider (there are about 25 insurers offering this, though many are subsidiaries of a few large groups). The package is legally standardised — every insurer must cover the same core treatments. The main variables are price (around €130–€165 per month in 2026) and the type of policy (restitutiepolis vs naturapolis).
Aanvullende verzekering (supplementary insurance) — optional. You can add this to your basic policy, often from the same insurer. Supplementary packages are not standardised — each insurer designs their own, with varying coverage levels and prices.
Tandartsverzekering (dental insurance) — sometimes bundled into supplementary packages, sometimes sold separately.
You can compare both basic and supplementary options using a comparison platform like Independer.
Compare Dutch health insurance and add-ons on Independer
What the Basic Package Doesn’t Cover (That Matters for Expats)
- Dental care for adults (except oral surgery/hospital treatment)
- Physiotherapy — except for chronic conditions on the approved list
- Glasses and contact lenses
- Most mental health care after around 3–5 sessions per year
- Alternative medicine (acupuncture, homeopathy, osteopathy, etc.)
- Vaccinations for travel
- Fertility treatment beyond limited IVF coverage
- Hearing aids (partial coverage only)
- Cosmetic and elective treatments
For expats who regularly use physiotherapy, wear glasses, or want solid dental coverage, these gaps are felt quickly.
Dental Insurance (Tandartsverzekering)
What It Covers
Most dental add-ons cover:
- Routine check-ups (controles) and cleaning
- Fillings and restorations
- Extractions
- Emergency dental care
- Often: crowns, bridges, and dentures (up to a percentage or annual maximum)
More expensive dental packages may cover:
- Orthodontics (braces) — usually with specific waiting periods and age restrictions
- Dental implants
- Periodontal treatment
What Dutch Dental Care Costs Without Insurance
To understand if dental insurance is worth it, here are typical out-of-pocket costs:
- Check-up: €30–€50
- X-rays: €20–€60 depending on type
- Filling: €80–€150
- Root canal: €300–€600
- Crown: €500–€1,000
- Dental implant: €1,500–€2,500
What Dental Insurance Costs
Basic dental add-ons: €8–€12 per month, typically covering routine care up to €250–€500 per year. Mid-range dental packages: €15–€25 per month, typically covering up to €750–€1,500 per year including some restorative work. Full dental packages: €30–€50 per month, often covering up to €2,000–€5,000 per year including crowns and major treatments.
My View
For most expats, a mid-range dental package is worth it. The break-even point is roughly one filling or check-up + cleaning per year. Given that dental care in the Netherlands is relatively expensive compared to many home countries, the add-on pays for itself quickly.
If you have good teeth and haven’t needed dental work in years, basic or no dental coverage might be reasonable. If you know you have ongoing dental needs (pending crowns, orthodontic treatment, etc.), get full coverage before the treatment, not after — most plans have waiting periods of 6–12 months for major treatments.
Physiotherapy (Fysiotherapie)
What the Basic Package Covers
The basic package covers physiotherapy for conditions on the chronic conditions list — including back and neck problems that persist beyond a certain number of visits, cerebrovascular accidents, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and others.
For most sports injuries, short-term back pain, post-surgery rehabilitation, and general physiotherapy needs — the basic package does not apply.
What Physiotherapy Costs Out of Pocket
A physiotherapy session in the Netherlands typically costs €35–€60. A common treatment course is 5–10 sessions. Total cost: €175–€600 per treatment episode.
What Physio Add-Ons Cover
Supplementary packages typically offer between 9 and 18 physiotherapy sessions per year, covered either fully or up to a percentage. Some packages cap the reimbursement per session (e.g., up to €40 per session).
Cost: roughly €3–€8 per month additional for 9–12 sessions coverage.
My View
If you’re physically active, play sports, or have a history of musculoskeletal issues, physiotherapy coverage is worth adding. It is one of the cheaper add-ons and the out-of-pocket cost of physiotherapy in the Netherlands makes it relatively easy to recoup.
Mental Health Coverage
What the Basic Package Covers
The basic package covers some mental health care (geestelijke gezondheidszorg, or GGZ), but the coverage is limited and the system is under strain. You can access:
- A set number of sessions with a basic GGZ professional after GP referral
- More extensive treatment through specialist GGZ for serious conditions
Waiting times for mental health referrals through the basic system can be significant — months in some areas.
What Supplementary Packages Offer
Some aanvullende packages include additional GGZ sessions, coaching, or counselling beyond what the basic package provides. This is particularly relevant for:
- Expats experiencing adjustment difficulties or isolation
- Those wanting to see an English-speaking therapist (often outside the standard referral network)
- People wanting faster access without long waiting lists
Cost: varies, but mental health add-ons or higher-tier full packages that include extended GGZ coverage typically cost €10–€20 per month more.
English-Speaking Therapists
One practical point: many English-speaking therapists in the Netherlands operate privately and are not covered by the standard referral system. A supplementary package or a restitutiepolis (which reimburses you for any registered provider rather than directing you to contracted providers) gives more flexibility here.
For our broader guide on mental health support, see Lonely Expat Netherlands: Finding Community.
Glasses and Contact Lenses
What the Basic Package Covers
Nothing for routine glasses or contact lenses for adults. Children under 18 get a contribution for their first pair of glasses.
What Add-Ons Cover
Glasses coverage in aanvullende packages typically provides:
- A contribution once every 1–2 years (commonly €100–€250 per pair)
- Sometimes coverage for contact lenses instead
Cost: approximately €2–€5 per month in a supplementary package with glasses coverage.
My View
If you wear glasses or contact lenses, this add-on is a no-brainer. A new pair of glasses in the Netherlands costs €100–€400+ for a decent pair with anti-reflective lenses. The add-on pays for itself quickly.
Travel Insurance and Vaccinations
Travel Add-Ons
Some higher-tier aanvullende packages include travel insurance (reisverzekering) or emergency medical coverage abroad. This can be useful for expats who travel frequently.
However, standalone travel insurance is often cheaper and more broader than what’s included in a health add-on. Compare both options.
Travel vaccinations (for destinations outside Europe) are typically not covered by the basic package. Some supplementary packages include a contribution, or you can pay directly at a travel clinic (reizigerspoli). Cost per vaccination is typically €20–€70.
How to Choose
The right combination depends on your personal situation. Here’s a quick guide:
Single expat, good health, few dental issues:
- Basic + dental (basic level) + physiotherapy
- Estimated additional cost: €15–€25 per month
Expat family with children:
- Basic + full dental (children have orthodontic coverage needs) + physiotherapy + glasses
- Estimated additional cost: €30–€50 per month per adult
Expat with chronic condition or active mental health needs:
- Basic (restitutiepolis for provider flexibility) + full supplementary with GGZ extension
- Estimated additional cost: €20–€35 per month
Expat with very low risk tolerance / wants everything covered:
- Premium full package covering dental, physio, GGZ, glasses, alternative medicine, and travel
- Estimated additional cost: €50–€80 per month
The Annual Switching Window
A critical practical point: you can only change your health insurance (basic and supplementary) between 1 November and 31 December, with changes taking effect on 1 January. Missing this window means you’re locked in for another year.
Mark this window in your calendar each October. Spend a few hours comparing packages on Independer before the deadline.
Compare health insurance add-ons on Independer before November
The Own Risk (Eigen Risico)
A reminder: the basic policy has a mandatory annual deductible of €385 in 2026. Before the insurer covers costs (above what the basic package always covers, like GP visits), you pay this amount yourself. You can voluntarily raise it to €885 for a small monthly premium discount — this is generally only worth it if you are very healthy and rarely need non-GP care.
Supplementary insurance does not count toward or reduce the eigen risico.
Internal Resources
- Life Insurance for Expats in Netherlands 2026
- Car Insurance Netherlands for Expats 2026
- Lonely Expat Netherlands: Finding Community
- Retiring in the Netherlands: Expat Guide
- MVV Visa and Family Reunification Netherlands
- Netherlands vs Japan for Expats 2026
- Dutch Utilities Explained for Expats 2026
- Finding a Mortgage Broker Netherlands: Expat Guide
FAQ
What does the basic Dutch health insurance not cover?
The basic package (basisverzekering) does not cover dental care for adults over 18 (except oral surgery), most physiotherapy sessions, glasses and contact lenses, most mental health care beyond a set number of sessions, alternative medicine, and many cosmetic or elective treatments. These are covered by optional supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering).
Is dental insurance worth it for expats in the Netherlands?
For most expats, yes — especially if you have ongoing dental needs or anticipate needing work done. Dutch dental care is not cheap: a routine check-up is around €30–€50, a filling €80–€150, and a crown €500–€1,000. Dental add-ons typically cost €8–€25 per month and cover a percentage of costs up to an annual maximum.
Does basic Dutch health insurance cover physiotherapy?
The basic package covers physiotherapy only for certain chronic conditions listed on the so-called ‘chronic conditions list’ (chronische aandoeningenlijst). For other physiotherapy needs, you’ll pay out of pocket unless you have supplementary (aanvullende) insurance that includes physiotherapy sessions.
What is aanvullende verzekering?
Aanvullende verzekering means supplementary or additional insurance. It is optional insurance that you take alongside your mandatory basic health insurance (basisverzekering) to cover things not included in the basic package — most commonly dental care, physiotherapy, glasses, and mental health sessions.
Can I change my health insurance add-ons during the year?
No. In the Netherlands, health insurance (both basic and supplementary) can only be changed between 1 November and 31 December each year, with changes taking effect on 1 January the following year. The one exception is if you move to a new address or have a major life change that triggers a mid-year switch right.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the basic Dutch health insurance not cover?
The basic package (basisverzekering) does not cover dental care for adults over 18 (except oral surgery), most physiotherapy sessions, glasses and contact lenses, most mental health care beyond a set number of sessions, alternative medicine, and many cosmetic or elective treatments. These are covered by optional supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering).
Is dental insurance worth it for expats in the Netherlands?
For most expats, yes — especially if you have ongoing dental needs or anticipate needing work done. Dutch dental care is not cheap: a routine check-up is around €30–€50, a filling €80–€150, and a crown €500–€1,000. Dental add-ons typically cost €8–€25 per month and cover a percentage of costs up to an annual maximum.
Does basic Dutch health insurance cover physiotherapy?
The basic package covers physiotherapy only for certain chronic conditions listed on the so-called 'chronic conditions list' (chronische aandoeningenlijst). For other physiotherapy needs, you'll pay out of pocket unless you have supplementary (aanvullende) insurance that includes physiotherapy sessions.
What is aanvullende verzekering?
Aanvullende verzekering means supplementary or additional insurance. It is optional insurance that you take alongside your mandatory basic health insurance (basisverzekering) to cover things not included in the basic package — most commonly dental care, physiotherapy, glasses, and mental health sessions.
Can I change my health insurance add-ons during the year?
No. In the Netherlands, health insurance (both basic and supplementary) can only be changed between 1 November and 31 December each year, with changes taking effect on 1 January the following year. The one exception is if you move to a new address or have a major life change that triggers a mid-year switch right.
